Lawn sprinkler head

ABSTRACT

A reversible short and long stroke impact sprinkler head of the popup type normally recessed in a housing set in the ground adapted to popup when water pressure is turned on; the improvement providing a rotatably adjustable cam member disposed laterally along the inner sprinkler housing wall, and a striker pin attached to a pivot member which extends radially outwardly to strike against the cam member.

[Jnited States Patent [72] Inventor Devere Turrell 22125 Grand Lake, St.Clair Shores, Mich. 48080 [21] Appl. No. 73,899

[22] Filed Sept. 21,1970

[45] Patented Dec.7, 1971 [54] LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD 6 Claims, 3 DrawingFigs.

[52] US. Cl 239/206, 239/230, 239/232. 239/236 [51 Int. Cl B05!) 3/08[50] Field of Search 239/203.

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,088,677 5/1963 Coffey etal. 239/206 X 3,567,126 3/l97l Martini 239/230 X Primary ExaminerM.Henson Wood, Jr. Assistant Examiner-Michael Y. Mar Allorneycullen,Settle, Sloman & Cantor ABSTRACT: A reversible short and long strokeimpact sprinkler head of the popup type normally recessed in a housingset in the ground adapted to popup when water pressure is turned on; theimprovement providing a rotatably adjustable cam member disposedlaterally along the inner sprinkler housing wall, and a striker pinattached to a pivot member which extends radially outwardly to strikeagainst the cam member PATENTED DEC 7 I975 INVENTOR.

DEVERE TURRELL.

CULLEN, SETTLE, SLOMAN a CANTOR.

ATT'YS.

LAWN SPRINKLER HEAD BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is known tosupport and insert impact lawn or turf sprinkler heads within a usuallycylindrical well or housing, set in the ground. The sprinkler head isrotatable on a spindle supported in the bottom of the housing and itsupper end is attached to a cover which, when the sprinkler head isrecessed in the housing, causes the housing to be flush with the groundsurface.

The sprinkler head spindle is telescoped within a tube and fittingextension disposed in a coaxial housing extension which progressesfarther into the ground.

In the conventional full and part circle sprinkler heads the lower tubeand fitting extensions which rotatably and telescopically supports thesprinkler head, also supports the tripping cam assembly adapted to beengaged intermittently by a striker pin which is attached to a directionand stroke reversing pivot member for extension in axial directiondownwardly along the spindle of the sprinkler head and into the confinesof the tripping cams.

This conventional arrangement of the tripping cam as sembly and strikerpin is objectionable in that the axial arrangement of these membersrequires an excessive tube and housing extension into the ground andthus a corresponding deep location of the water supply pipes. Thus,installation and maintenance of these known sprinkler head assemblies isexcessively time consuming and expensive.

Accordingly, the improved sprinkler head of the present inventionprovides an installation which avoids the above-mentioned shortcomingsof conventional sprinkler heads of this type, by considerably shorteningthe installation depth of the sprinkler assembly.

In the improved construction, the tripping cam assembly has beenrelocated to the walls of the enclosing sprinkler housing and, thestriker pin has been relocated for extension radially outwardly from thepivot member for cooperation with the laterally outwardly positioned camassembly, thereby obtaining an improved structure for in-groundinstallation at considerably lesser depth by eliminating any excessivetube and housing extensions.

The present invention will be best understood by reference to thefollowing detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The accompanying drawings form a partof the following description and illustrate in detail the novel featuresof the present improved impact sprinkler head in which:

FIG. I is a cross section through the sprinkler head well or housingenclosing the present improved sprinkler head, shown in the popupposition;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged fractional cross section through a portion of thesprinkler head showing the improved trip mechanism more in detail; and

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 showing the trip mechanism in itsalternate position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT With particularreference to FIG. I, the numeral 20 indicates a lawn or turf surface andthe numeral 11 indicates the ground beneath the surface.

A well or housing 12 is set within the ground 11 having a top edgedisposed slightly below the ground surface to accommodate a cover 14which, when in place over the well or housing 12, covers the housing soas to be substantially flush with the ground surface 10, to permitunobstructive walking thereover and passing of turf or lawn maintenancemachinery over the sprinkler well, as is well understood.

The well or housing 14 is of generally cylindrical cross section (forconvenience of manufacture, although not necessarily needs to be, butcould be in rectangular or any other shape) and contains the improvedimpact sprinkler head assembly 16 of the present invention, which inconventional manner, is normally concealed within the well 12 when notin operation and the cover 14 is shut upon the well. The sprinkler headincluding the cover 114 is adapted to popup to the operational positionshown in FIG. 1, upon application of fluid pressure through thesprinkler head, in a well-known manner.

With further particular reference to FIG. I the present improvedsprinkler head assembly 16 is rotatably supported on a spindle 18 whichis telescopically inserted within a tubular extension 20 secured to thebottom wall 13 of the well or housing 12. The tubular extension 20 has aradial flange 22 disposed within the housing 12 and positioned adistance above the bottom wall 13 for a purpose to appear.

As will be understood, the spindle I8 is axially bored at 19 forcommunication with the axial bore 21 of the tubular extension 20 whichhas a threaded end portion 24 for attachment to a respective fluidoutlet fitting 25 of the water supply system disposed underneath theground surface as is common practice.

The spindle 18 is telescoped within the bore 21 of the tubular extension20 and radially supports therein by means of a flange 26 so that, whenno fluid pressure is present in an upward direction through the bore 21,the sprinkler head is maintained in downwardly retracted position due toits own gravity, but will be forced upwardly by fluid pressure acting onthe flange 26 to pop the sprinkler head above the ground surface asshown in FIG. 1.

Inwardly of the well or housing 12 the spindle 18 is supported forrotation within a corrosion resistant bearing member 28 which issupported in a counterbore at the inner end of the bore 2! in thetubular extension 20.

The sprinkler head assembly 16 itself comprises a nozzle 30 which is incommunication with the bore 19 of the spindle 18. At the upper end thesprinkler head assembly supports an independently rotatable, resilientlydepressable drive arm 32 which has a fluid deflecting surface 33normally biased into the path of the stream of fluid exiting from thenozzle 30, by means of a coil spring 36.

The drive arm 32 is rotatably resiliently supported along a pivot axisX" between a U-shaped bracket 34 at the top of the sprinkler head whichsupports an expansion coil spring 36 having one end attached to thebracket 34 and its opposite lower end attached to the drive arm 32. Thespring 36 continuously urges the drive arm 32 in a clockwise direction(as viewed from above) toward an impact member 31 projecting frombracket 34. Fluid pressure acting against the deflecting surface 33 ofthe drive arm when the arm is abutting impact member 31 tends to movethe drive am in a direction against the force of the spring 36 and outof the path of the fluid stream, thereby winding up the spring andcausing the drive arm to be moved back into its initial position againstimpact member 31.

The drive arm 32, when subjected to fluid pressure exiting from thenoule 30, is caused to oscillate rapidly across the nozzle opening, asexplained above, causing rotation of the sprinkler head in either theclockwise or counterclockwise direction, depending upon the action of adirection-reversing tripping mechanism to be described hereafter.

The drive arm 32 has a portion 38 extending through the U- shapedbracket 34, which, at its lower end, is provided with an abutment 40adapted to be intermittently engaged by a stop 42 normally disposed inthe path of the abutment 40.

The stop 42 is provided for upward extension from an arm 44 of a forkedpivot member 46 which is rockably supported along a pivot axis Y" froman extension 35 of the bracket 34, for selective rocking movement andconjoint rotation with the sprinkler head around the center axis X ofthe sprinkler head.

In a first position (see FIG. 2) of forked pivot member 46, stop 42 liesin the path of abutment 40 as drive arm 32 is swung in acounterclockwise direction by the force of the fluid stream, producingonly a short stroke or swing of drive arm 32 prior to its striking stop42. In a second position (see FIG. 3) of pivot member 46, stop 42 isremoved from the path of abutment 40, enabling drive ann 32 to swingthrough a long are or stroke against the compression of spring 36.

in accordance with the present invention, to cause pivoting of the pivotmember 46 to reverse the direction of rotation and alter the angulardegree of rotational movement of the sprinkler head, a second pivotmember 47 is provided which is likewise supported for rocking movementalong the pivot axis Y" underneath the pivot member 46. As best seen inFIGS. 2 and 3, the pivot members 46 and 47 are operativelyinterconnected by means of a tension spring 49 in such fashion thatrocking movement of one pivot member causes a like rocking movement ofthe other pivot members but in opposite direction.

The second pivot member 47 is provided with a striker pin 50 attached tothe apex of the second pivot member for extension radially outwardlytowards the lateral inner surface of the well 12. According to thepresent invention, two trip members 52, 53 are provided for extensionalong the lateral inner surface of the well 12. Each of the trip membersis composed of a length of spring wire formed into a L-shapedconfiguration to provide parallel side arms 54 and 55, respectively forextension in substantially parallel alignment along the inner surface ofthe well 12. The arms 54, 55 each terminate inwardly towards the centralaxis X" of the sprinkler head into a coil formation 56 disposed aroundthe inner end of the support tube between the radial flange 22 and thebottom portion 13 of the well.

The trip members 52, 53 are independently circumferentially adjustablealong the inner sidewall of the sprinkler well or housing by means of aplurality of closely spaced notches 60 disposed along the uppercircumferential rim 62 of the well or housing 12 adapted to be engagedby the respective crimped over hook portions 64 at the ends of the arms54 and 55. Thus, the trip members can be rotatably angularly adjustedaround the sprinkler head 16 at substantially infinite angular positionsto thereby extend or reduce the angular degree of the rotational cycleof the sprinkler head.

With more particular reference to FIG. 3, which illustrates the longstroke cycle of the present improved sprinkler head assembly, when fluidpressure is turned on, the fluid pressure is conveyed through theconduit 21 of the tube 20 and into the axial passage 19 of the sprinklerhead spindle 18 for exit through the nozzle 30. The fluid pressure actson the flange 26 of the spindle 18 moving the sprinkler head assemblyupwardly out of the well or housing 12 to the position shown in FIG. 1.

As the pressurized fluid exits from the nozzle 30, it hits thedeflection surface 33 of the pivoted and resiliently biased drive arm 32causing the drive arm to be pivoted in a direction away from the nozzle30 against the force of the spring 44 while the spring 44 is being woundup. Drive arm 32 pivots through a long stroke or arc, since abutment 40clears stop 42. The unloading force of the greatly compressed spring 44causes the drive arm 32 to be rotated again in opposite directiontowards the nozzle 30 again into the stream of pressurized fluid bysimultaneously abutting against the impact member 31, which is securedto the bracket 34 forming a part of the sprinkler head assembly. Thespring forced impact of the drive arm 32 against the impact member 31 isgreat enough to cause partial rotation of the sprinkler head assembly inthe clockwise direction around the spindle 18. Since the drive arm 32 isnow again disposed in the path of the pres-' surized fluid, the actionrepeats itself, with the drive arm 32 being rapidly pivoted back andforth by means of the opposite acting forces of the fluid pressureexiting from nozzle 30 and the stored energy of the spring 34 to therebyrapidly and intermittently exert an impact force on the impact member31, driving the sprinkler head assembly 16 in increments around thespindle axis X."

Sprinkler head assembly 16 continues to rotate incrementally in aclockwise direction until striker pin 50 engages one of theprepositioned arms 54,55. FIG. 3 shows pin 50 approaching arm 54, whenpin 50 engages arm 54 at the end of the long stroke cycle, the secondpivot member 47 is rocked counterclockwise around the axis Y," therebytensloning and twisting the spring 49. The unloading reaction of thespring 49 causes the first pivot member 46 to be rocked clockwise aroundpivot axis Y." This action moves the stop 42 into the path of theabutment 40 at the rear end of the drive am 32, thus initiating theshort stroke cycle of the sprinkler head assembly 16 in reverse,counterclockwise direction. This position of the direction and strokereversing pivot members 46 and 47 is illustrated in FIG. 2.

ln the short stroke cycle, the short travel of drive arm 32 onlyproduces a small amount of compression of spring 36, with the resultthat the impact against member 31 is insufficient to cause incrementalrotation of the sprinkler head. Rather, the impact of abutment 40against stop 42 causes incremental rotation in the counterclockwisedirection.

It will be obvious from the foregoing description and detailedillustration in the accompanying drawings that the present inventionprovides an improved impact sprinkler head of the popup type by whichunneccessary tube or housing extensions, to accommodate the trip or cammechanism, have been effectively eliminated to thereby permit aconsiderable shortening of the sprinkler well and tube extension intothe ground, permitting the disposal of the water supply piping system ata lesser depth than hitherto possible.

This arrangement considerably improves the effectiveness and greatlyfacilitates installation and maintenance of the present popup type,impact sprinkler head assembly.

Although the present invention has been described and shown by means ofa preferred embodiment, it will be obvious to anyone skilled in the artto which the invention pertains, that various changes in arrangement andstructural details may be asserted to without departing from the spiritand essential characteristic of the invention as defined by the scope ofthe appended claims.

lclaim:

1. In combination with an impact sprinkler head of the popup typenormally retained in a well below the ground for rotation around aspindle and having a nozzle in communication with a source of fluidunder pressure through said spindle; a drive arm resiliently pivotallysupported on said sprinkler head for movement around a first pivot axis;said drive arm having a first portion normally extending in the path ofthe fluid exiting from said nozzle and a second portion extending inopposite direction from said first axis; the lower end of said secondportion being provided with an abutment member; a second pivot axisdisposed in adjoining relationship to said first pivot axis; a firstpivot member pivotally supporting for rocking movement around saidsecond pivot axis having forked arm extensions; one of said armextensions being provided with a stop member normally extending into thepath of said abutment member so that, in response to the relativeposition of said pivot member said abutment member in one position abutssaid stop member and said abutment member in the other position clearssaid stop member; the improvement comprising; cam means adjustablydisposed laterally along the inside of said well; a second pivot memberconjointly supported for rocking movement around said second pivot axis;a striker pin attached to said second pivot member for extensionradially outwardly towards the insides of said well adapted forintermittent abutment against said cam means upon rotation of saidsprinkler head in either direction of rotation; means resilientlyoperably connecting said first and said second pivot member such thatsaid means will be tensioned upon rocking movement of said second pivotmember to cause rocking movement of said first pivot member in adirection opposite from the direction of rocking movement of said secondpivot member; to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of saidsprinkler head as well as alter the angular degree of rotation.

2. In the combination as defined in claim 1, the further improvement ofsaid cam means comprising a pair of resilient members each havingopposite substantially parallel arm portions connected to a transverseportion disposed along the bottom of said well to locate said parallelarm portions in juxtaposed lateral position relative to said inner sidesof said well; each of said arm portions being provided with a bentoverhook portion adapted for engagement over the edge of said well toadjustably individually position said resilient members relative to saidstriker pin.

3. In the combination as defined in claim 2, each of said resilientmembers composed of a length of steel spring wire bent to form asubstantial L-shape and said transverse portion terminating in a coiledend; said coiled end being disposed around said spindle within said welladjacent said bottom portion of said well.

4. In the combination as defined in claim 1, said means resilientlyoperably connecting said first and second pivot members comprising acoiled spring.

5. A popup sprinkler head assembly including a well surrounding androtatably supporting said sprinkler head for alternate short and longstroke rotation in opposite directions; said sprinkler head having anozzle for communication with a source of fluid under pressure and adrive arm resiliently supported for rocking movement around a firstpivot axis independent of the rotational movement of said sprinklerhead; said drive am having a portion at one side of said first axispartly overlying said nozzle; said drive arm having an extensionprolonging in the opposite direction from said first axis which isprovided with an abutment; a second pivot axis located on said sprinklerhead and disposed in a direction substantially parallel to said firstpivot axis; first and second pivot members supported for rockingmovement around said second pivot axis in opposite direction to eachother; one of said pivot members having a stop adapted for alternateengagement with said abutment on said drive am; said pivot members beingadapted upon rocking movement in opposite directions to intermittentlyreposition said stop relative to said abutment for alternate short orlong stroke rotation of said sprinkler head; the improvement comprising:the other of said pivot members being provided with a striker pinextending radially outwardly from said second pivot axis and; cam meansadjustably disposed laterally along the inner side surface of said welland within the path of said striker pin when said sprinkler head isrotating to cause abutment of said striker pin against said cam means torock said other pivot member into an alternate position causing asimilar rocking movement of said one pivot member in the oppOsitedirection to thereby change the rotational direction of said sprinklerhead as well as the angular degree of rotational movement.

6. In the sprinkle head assembly as defined in claim 5, said cam meanscomprising a length of spring wire bent into a substantially L-shapedconfiguration providing an arm for vertical extension laterally alongthe inner side surface of said well; said arm at its lower endterminating into a coil for support around the spindle of said sprinklerhead and the upper end of said arm being provided with a crimped-overportion for rotational adjustable support of said L-shaped cam meansalong the upper rim of said well.

1. In combination with an impact sprinkler head of the popup typenormally retained in a well below the ground for rotation around aspindle and having a nozzle in communication with a source of fluidunder pressure through said spindle; a drive arm resiliently pivotallysupported on said sprinkler head for movement around a first pivot axis;said drive arm having a first portion normally extending in the path ofthe fluid exiting from said nozzle and a second portion extending inopposite direction from said first axis; the lower end of said secondportion being provided with an abutment member; a second pivot axisdisposed in adjoining relationship to said first pivot axis; a firstpivot member pivotally supporting for rocking movement around saidsecond pivot axis having forked arm extensions; one of said armextensions being provided with a stop member normally extending into thEpath of said abutment member so that, in response to the relativeposition of said pivot member said abutment member in one position abutssaid stop member and said abutment member in the other position clearssaid stop member; the improvement comprising; cam means adjustablydisposed laterally along the inside of said well; a second pivot memberconjointly supported for rocking movement around said second pivot axis;a striker pin attached to said second pivot member for extensionradially outwardly towards the insides of said well adapted forintermittent abutment against said cam means upon rotation of saidsprinkler head in either direction of rotation; means resilientlyoperably connecting said first and said second pivot member such thatsaid means will be tensioned upon rocking movement of said second pivotmember to cause rocking movement of said first pivot member in adirection opposite from the direction of rocking movement of said secondpivot member; to thereby reverse the direction of rotation of saidsprinkler head as well as alter the angular degree of rotation.
 2. Inthe combination as defined in claim 1, the further improvement of saidcam means comprising a pair of resilient members each having oppositesubstantially parallel arm portions connected to a transverse portiondisposed along the bottom of said well to locate said parallel armportions in juxtaposed lateral position relative to said inner sides ofsaid well; each of said arm portions being provided with a bentover hookportion adapted for engagement over the edge of said well to adjustablyindividually position said resilient members relative to said strikerpin.
 3. In the combination as defined in claim 2, each of said resilientmembers composed of a length of steel spring wire bent to form asubstantial L-shape and said transverse portion terminating in a coiledend; said coiled end being disposed around said spindle within said welladjacent said bottom portion of said well.
 4. In the combination asdefined in claim 1, said means resiliently operably connecting saidfirst and second pivot members comprising a coiled spring.
 5. A popupsprinkler head assembly including a well surrounding and rotatablysupporting said sprinkler head for alternate short and long strokerotation in opposite directions; said sprinkler head having a nozzle forcommunication with a source of fluid under pressure and a drive armresiliently supported for rocking movement around a first pivot axisindependent of the rotational movement of said sprinkler head; saiddrive arm having a portion at one side of said first axis partlyoverlying said nozzle; said drive arm having an extension prolonging inthe opposite direction from said first axis which is provided with anabutment; a second pivot axis located on said sprinkler head anddisposed in a direction substantially parallel to said first pivot axis;first and second pivot members supported for rocking movement aroundsaid second pivot axis in opposite direction to each other; one of saidpivot members having a stop adapted for alternate engagement with saidabutment on said drive arm; said pivot members being adapted uponrocking movement in opposite directions to intermittently repositionsaid stop relative to said abutment for alternate short or long strokerotation of said sprinkler head; the improvement comprising: the otherof said pivot members being provided with a striker pin extendingradially outwardly from said second pivot axis and; cam means adjustablydisposed laterally along the inner side surface of said well and withinthe path of said striker pin when said sprinkler head is rotating tocause abutment of said striker pin against said cam means to rock saidother pivot member into an alternate position causing a similar rockingmovement of said one pivot member in the oppOsite direction to therebychange the rotational direction of said sprinkler head as well as theangular degree of rotational movement.
 6. In the sprinkle head Assemblyas defined in claim 5, said cam means comprising a length of spring wirebent into a substantially L-shaped configuration providing an arm forvertical extension laterally along the inner side surface of said well;said arm at its lower end terminating into a coil for support around thespindle of said sprinkler head and the upper end of said arm beingprovided with a crimped-over portion for rotational adjustable supportof said L-shaped cam means along the upper rim of said well.